Electronic device



Jan. 4, 1949. A A. G. THOMAS Y I 2,457,950

\ ELECTRONIC DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 18, 1945 y WMC INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 4, 1949 ELECTRONIC DEVICE Albert G. Thomas, Lynchburg, Va.

Original application January 18, 1945, Serial No.

573,366. Divided and this application November 15, 1945, Serial No. 628,784

(Cl. Z50-27.5)

12 claims. l

This invention relates to electronic devices generally and particularly to electronic switches and is a division from my co-pending application Serial No. 573,366, iiled January 18, 1945, now Patent No. 2,432,260.

The usual type of electro-mechanical switch is far too slow in operation for many purposes and has the disadvantage that the contacts burn and wear rapidly under heavy loads. It istherefore an object to provide an electronic switch which may be easily connected in circuit and which will operate with great rapidity.

Another object is to provide a simple electronic switch which can be substituted for complicated arrays of tubes and other components which, in the past, have been used in attempts to accomplish similar results.

A further object is to provide an electronic switch in which poles can be inter-connected or crossed over as desired.

Another object is to provide an electronic switch with a plurality of chambers with inter-connecting channels which may be electrically connected or disconnected. I

An additional object is to provide a double pole reversing electronic switch.

Other objects will appear in the speciilcation. The drawing shows an electronic switch, with casing and crossed partitions in section, and having a plurality of interconnected chambers containing various switch elements.

In the drawing, envelope I has cross partition 29 of glass or the like and glass partitions 2 and 3 sealed to the inside of the envelope and to partition 29, forming chambers A, B, C and D as shown. Channels or openings 25 and 28 in partition 29 join chambers A and Band chambers C and D respectively. Likewise,inclined channels 26 and 21 in partition 29 join chambers B and C, A and D, respectively. Grids 4 and 9 are positioned in openings 28 and 25, respectively and are connected with suitable leads 1 and 8 sealed in envelope I. These grids could be placed near the openings, on either side of partition 29.

Grid IU is placed near the lower end of opening 21, although it can be situated in the opening, and is connected with lead II and sealed in envelope l and partition 3. Similarly, grid 5 is placed near the lower end of opening or channel 26, although it could be in the channel, and is connected with lead 6 sealed in partitions 29, 2, and envelope I. These leads could be brought out in other manner if desired.

Anodes I8 and I9, with leads 20 and 2|, are provided in chambers B and D, respectively, and

cathodes or laments I2 and I3 with leads I4---I`5` and leads IE--I 1, are provided in chambers A and C, respectively. These cathodes may be connected by conductor 24 sealed in envelope I, or snapped in an outside recess. Thenthe cathodes may be energized in series by connecting leads I4 and IB to a current source, or in parallel by employing leads III-I5 and IB--IL Screens 22 and 23, with connected leads sealed in envelope I, may be provided. The chambers may contain gas or they may be highly evacuated.

In operation, considering an evacuated device, if grids ID and 5 are made negative with respect to cathodes I2 and I3, and if grids 9 and 4 are made positive with respect to the cathodes by connecting them to suitable potential sources or otherwise, then flow of electrons through passages 26 and 21 can be prevented and ow of electrons from cathode I2 to anode I8, through passage 25, can be induced or allowed by grid 9. Similarly, positively charged grid 4 will induce or allow ilow of electrons from cathode I3 to anode I9 through passage 2,8. If grids 9 and 4 are charged suiciently negatively then virtually all current ilow through `passages 25 and 28 will cease. The amount of electron flow can be controlled by the kind and degree of charges on the grids.

Now if grids 9 and 4 are negatively biased to stop flow of electrons through passages or channels 25 and 28 and if grids I0 and 5 are made positive (or less negative) with respect to the cathodes suiiiciently to allow ilow of electrons throughpassages 21 and 26, respectively, then electrons from cathode I2 will flow through passage 21 to anode I9 and electrons from cathode I3 will flow through passage 26 to anode I8. The strength of the currents can Abe regulated by the charges on the grids.

This device therefore can be made to function as an electronic double pole reversing switch the currents through which may be regulated in both direction and strength. This furnishes a highly flexible relay or switching device for use in circuits generally.

The positive terminal of a common source of potential can be connected to anodes I8 and I9 through a load for each anode, the negative terminal of the source being connected to one of the leads of the joined cathodes. In this way, fields can be established between cathode I2 and anode I8 and between cathode l2 and anode I9 and between cathode I3 and anode I9 and also, between cathode I3 and anode I 8.

Screens or grids 22 and 23 may be used :if desired, in order to help separate the electrostatic fields. These may be grounded or charged in any desired way. Other screens may be placed at strategic points for similar purposes. The locations of the various grids and channels can be chosen in order to prevent least counteraction or interference between various fields. The cathodes may be spread over a considerable area in order to help prevent such interference., It is obvious that the cathodes might be separate and the anodes can be joined.

The grids can be charged in any desired combinations or sequence to produce a variety of connections and effects.

In case gas is enclosed in the chambers, a plurality of screens can be used adjacent the grids or other elements or passages in order to: minimize spilling over of ions from one channel to an.- other.

Separate anode potential sources joined at the common terminal may be used.

Numerous variations and modifications of the broad concepts disclosed may easily be madewithout departing from the general principles of the invention.

What I claim is: I

1. In an electron discharge device, an envelope, parti-tion means with openings therein and forming a plurality of compartments'within said envelope, an anode-'in each of a plurality' `of said compartments, a cathode in each of a plurality of said compartments, and means for controlling ow of electrons from any of a plurality of said cathodes to any of a plurality of said anodes.

2. Inanelectron discharge device, an envelope, a first anode and Ya second anode within said envelope, a first cathodeV and a second cathode Within said envelope, partition means separating sa-id first cathode and first anode from said second cathode and second anode, other partition means separating said cathodes fromsaid anodes, said other partition means having aplurality of openings to allow passage of electrons from either said cathode to either said anode. l

3. The device of claim 2, and means to control iiovv of said' electron-s through said openings.v

4. In an electron discharge device, an envelope, a rst anodeand a second anodewithinsaid envelope, a iirst cathode and a second cathode Within said envelope, partition means' separating said rst cathode and i'lrst anode from said second cathode and second' anode, other partition means separating said cathodes from said anodes, a plurality of openings in said other partition means to allow passage of electrons from either saidI cathode to either said anode, and a plurality' of grids to control iiowv of electrons through said openings.

5. In an electron discharge device, an envelope, a first anode and a second anode within said envelope, a first cathode and a secondl cathode within` said envelope,A partition means separatingl said first cathode and rstanode from said second cathode and second anode and separating said cathodes from said arlodes, said partition means having a plurality of openings therethrough to allow passage of electrons from either said cathode to either said anode, and control means adjacent said cathodes for dividing iiow of, electrons therefrom.

6. The device ofA claim 5 and including means to control flow of electrons through said openings.

7. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a first anode and a second anode within said envelope, a iirst cathode and a second cathode within said envelope, partition means separating said rst cathode and rst anode from said second cathode and second anode, said partition means also separating said cathodes from said anodes, said partition means having a plurality of openings therethrough to allow passage ofV electrons from either said cathode. to either said anode, and a plurality of grids to control ow of electrons through said openings.

8. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, partition means with openings therein and forming a plurality of compartments within said envelope,` an anode in each of a plurality of said compartments, a cathode in each of a plurality of said compartments, and control means adjacent said openings for controlling iiow of electrons fromany of a plurality of said cathodes to any ela plurali-ty of said anodes.

9. An electron discharge device including, a pair of anodes, a pair of cathodes, and grid means for controlling flow of electrons from either said cathode to eitherr said anode. v

10. An electron discharge device comprising, an envelope, a'irst anode and a second anode Within said envelope, va first cathode and a second cathode vwithin said envelope, partition means separati-ngv said first cathode and said rst anode from said second cathode and said second anode, said partition means also separating said cathodesv from said anodes, said partition means hav'- i-ng a 'plurality of openings therethrough to allow passage of electrons from either said cathode to either said anode. i

11. An electron discharge device comprising, wall means forming four chambers, a cathode in each of two of said chambers, an anode in each of two of said chambers,` said wall means having open-ings therethrough `to allow substantially straight line flow of electrons from either ofA said cathodes to either of said anodes.

12. An electron dischargey device comprising, wall means forming four chambers, a. cathode in each of twoA of said chambers, an anode in each of two of said chambers, said wall means having open-ings therethrougl'iy to allow substantially straight line flow of electrons from ei'ther'of said cathodes to either ofv said'I anodes, and control means adjacent at least a plurality of' said openings to control iiow4 of electrons4 therethrough.

ALBERTr G. THOMAS'.`

'REFERENCES CITED The following referencesI are` of record in the tile oi this patent:

UNITED STATES. PATENTS Number Name Date 2,052,542 Thomas Aug. 25,v 193,6 2,094,470 Roberts Sept. 28, 193.7 2,198,317 Roberts n Apr. 23,. 1940 2,213,331 Etzrodt Oct. l5, 1940y FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 309,608 Great Britain Apr. 24, 1930 

